Electric terminal connector



w. NERLICH Fig.2.

INVENTOR Willi Nerlich BY QM' I ATTORNEY ELECTRIC TERMINAL CONNECTORFiled May 18, 1956 Aug. 16, 1960 WITNESSES or? fag WW United StatesPatent ELECTRIC TERMINAL CONNECTOR Willi Nerlich, Regensburg, Germany,assignor to Siemens- Schuckertwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Erlangen,Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed May 18, 1956, Ser. No. 535,891Claims priority, application Germany May 25, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl.339-272) This invention relates to electric terminal connectors and hasparticular relation to adjustable connectors for receiving terminals ofrigid electrical conductors.

According to the present invention an improved connector is providedwhich is arranged for adjustment relative to a connector support memberto facilitate the reception of a conductor terminal. The connector isconveniently mounted for rotation about the axis of the support memberto facilitate reception of a conductor terminal which extends transverseto the support member.

The connector is of multipart construction including a first part in theform of a body member having a passage for receiving a conductorterminal. A second part comprising a suitable pressure producing deviceis carried by the body member for adjustment relative to the body memberfor securing a received conductor terminal within the passage. Rotationof the body member about the axis of the support member results inrotation of the passage about such axis whereby the passage may belocated to facilitate reception of a rigid conductor terminal withoutthe necessity of eifecting difiicult and time consuming manipulation ofthe rigid conductor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the connector includes asubstantially U-shaped body member with the legs of the body memberhaving openings aligned to receive a rigid self-supporting supportmember which may be in the form of an electrical conductor such as a busbar member. The openings are configured to permit rotation of the bodymember about the axis of the bus bar relative thereto. The legs of thebody member are connected by a base portion which is spaced from theline of alignment of the openings to provide a pas sage transverse tosuch line for receiving a conductor terminal extending transverse to thebus bar in overlapping relation therewith.

A suitable screw is threadably carried by the base portion foradjustment along a line transverse to the passage for securing areceived conductor terminal within the passage in overlapping engagementwith the bus bar. A pressure applying device including a pressure plateis preferably positioned with the pressure plate between the screw andthe received conductor terminal to prevent direct engagement of thescrew with the received terminal.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improvedelectric terminal connector for receiving a conductor terminal.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved electricterminal connector for connecting a pair of transversely extendingconductors in overlapping engagement.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improvedelectric terminal connector assembly including a connector mounted by asupport member for ad justment relative to the support member tofacilitate reception of a rigid conductor terminal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric terminalconnector assembly including a connector mounted by an electricalconductor for rotation relative to the conductor about the conductoraxis to facilitate the connection to the conductor of a rigid conductorterminal extending transversely of the conductor.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a terminal connectorembodying the teachings of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section illustrating the connector of Fig. 1 mountedby a bus bar member in a position prior to reception of a conductorterminal;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the connector of Fig. 1adjusted from the position of Fig. 2 to an operative position relativeto a received conductor terminal;

Fig. 4 is a View in section diiferent from the section of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a view in section showing the connector of Fig. I mounted by abus bar member of difierent configuration.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated in Fig. 1 an electricterminal connector of multipart construction represented generally bythe numeral 1 embodying the teachings of the invention. As there shownthe connector 1 includes a first part in the form of a body member 3which is arranged for mounting by a suitable support member to receive aconductor terminal as will presently appear.

The body member 3 is preferably of substantially U- shaped configurationincluding a pair of spaced leg portions 5 and 7 connected by a baseportion 9. The leg portions 5 and 7 are preferably positioned to lie ina pair of parallel planes which are transverse to the plane of the baseportion 9. Any suitable material may be employed in the construction ofthe member 3. The member 3 may be formed in any suitable manner. Forexample, the member 3 may be constructed by stamping from a sheet of thedesired material a plate which may be machined and deformed to provide amember 3 having the configuration shown in Fig. 1.

In order to permit mounting of the member 3 to a support memberdescribed hereinafter the leg portions 5 and 7 are provided respectivelywith openings 11 and 13. The openings 11 and 13 are preferablypositioned in alignment along a straight line extending transverse tothe planes of the leg portions.

For the purpose of permitting the connection of a conductor terminal thebody member 3 includes a passage or channel 15 for receiving a conductorterminal. The passage 15 includes a first dimension defined by the spacebetween the leg portions 5 and 7. A second dimension of the passagetransverse to the first dimension is defined by the space between thebase portion 9 and the line of alignment of the openings 11 and 13. Itis noticed that the passage 15 extends transverse to the line ofalignment of the openings 11 and 13 to communicate with such openings.The dimensions of the passage 15 are selected so as to permit transverseoverlapping engagement of a received conductor terminal with a supportmember received by the openings ll. and 13.

In order to permit securement of a received conductor terminal withinthe passage 15 the connector 1 includes a suitable pressure producingdevice mounted by the body member 3 for adjustment relative to themember 3 towards and away from the passage 15. The pressure producingdevice is illustrated in the form of a screw 17 which is threadablymounted by the base portion 9 for adjustment along a line extendingtransverse to both the passage '15 and the line of alignment of theopenings 11 and 13. The screw 1'7 includes a pressure sur-' face 19which is positioned within the passage 15.

If desired, a suitable pressure applying device may be locatedintermediate the surface 19 and a conductor terminal received in thepassage :15 to prevent direct engagement of the screw surface 19 withthe received conductor terminal. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a substantially U-shaped device 21 may be provided for this purpose. As thereshown the device 211 includes a central base portion or pressure plate23 connecting a pair of spaced legs or extensions 25 and 27 whichproject transversely of the plate 23. The device 21 is positioned inlinking relation with the member 13 such that the plate 23 is locatedwithin the passage 15 to extend transversely of the base portion 9beneath the surface 19 of the screw as viewed in Fig. 3. It is observedthat the extensions 25 and 27 are located externally of the passage 15to extend in a direction opposite to the leg portions and 7 beyond thebase portion 9 so that the portion 9 is located in the channel 28defined by the extensions 25 and 27.

Referring to Fig. 2 there is shown the body member 3 supported by asuitable support member 29 of rigid self-supporting construction. Themember 29 is positioned to extend through the openings 11 and 13 as bestshown in Fig. 4. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the member29 is in the form of an electrical conductor such as a bus bar memberhaving a bare portion to which a conductor terminal is to be connectedby the connector '1. The bus bar 29 may have any desired cross-sectionalconfiguration. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the bus bar 29 is illustrated ashaving a rectangular crosssectional configuration, although it may beformed with a circular cross-sectional configuration as will presentlyappear.

The connector 1 is particularly suitable for connecting to the bus bar29 a rigidly constructed conductor which extends transverse to the busbar. In Fig. 2 there is illustrated an insulated electrical conductor 31having a bare terminal 33 which is to be connected to the bus bar 29.The conductor 31 is shown in Fig. 4 as having a cross-sectional area ofcircular configuration sufl'icient to provide a rigid construction ofthe conductor 31. It is to be understood, however, that the connector 1is capable of receiving terminals of conductors having cross-sectionalareas of various dimensions and configurations.

Connectors heretofore employed have been so constructed as to requiremanipulation and adjustment of a conductor to insert the conductorterminal in the connector. In many installations such manipulation of aconductor may be undesirable or quite difficult. This is especially truein installations wherein rigid conductors are located in closelyconfined quarters.

In accordance with the present invention the connector 1 is mounted bythe bus bar 29 for rotation relative to the bus bar about the axis ofthe bus bar to facilitate reception of the terminal 33. To this end theopenings 11 and 13 of the body member 3 are selected to have anon-rectangular configuration permitting such rotation. As illustratedin the drawings the openings 11 and 13 have circular configurationsalthough they may be formed with oval configurations if desired. It isobserved that the screw 17 and the device 21 are mounted with respecttothe member 13 such that relative rotation is prevented between the parts13, 17 and 21 about the axis of the bus bar.

In operation the connector 1 is adjusted about the axis of the bus barQ9 to a location permitting ready positioning of the terminal 33 inengagement with the bus bar between the leg portions 5 and 7 of themember 3. In order to minimize the contact resistance between theterminal 33 and the bus bar, the terminal 33 is positioned to engage oneof the opposed long sides 35 of the bus bar, as viewed in Fig. 2. Asshown in Fig. 2 the connector may be rotated to a location wherein thepassage 4i '15 extends substantially transverse to the terminal 33 tofacilitate positioning of the terminal 33 relative to the bus bar andconnector in the manner above described.

The screw 17 and the device 21 are conveniently adjusted in a directionpermitting rotation of the connector It in a clockwise direction aboutthe axis of the bus bar from the position shown in Fig. 2. to theposition shown in Fig. 3 wherein the terminal 33 is received in thepassage 15. Subsequent to such rotation of the connector 1, the terminal33 may readily be clamped into engagement with the bus bar by effectingadjustment of the screw 17 such that the surface 19 forces the plate 23into engagement with the terminal 33. It is observed that the terminal33 is operatively secured by the connector 1 without effectingundesirable manipulation of the conductor 31.

Referring to Fig. 5 there is illustrated a connector 1a which is similarin construction to the connector 1. The connector 1a is mounted by arigid self-supporting support member 29a having a cross-sectional areaof circular configuration. Parts of Fig. 5 which are similar to parts ofthe remaining figures are represented by the same reference numeralshaving the suffix a;

The member 29a may conveniently be in the form of a bus bar member towhich a rigid conductor 31a having a bare terminal 33a is to beconnected. The connector 1:; is arranged according to the invention toconnect the bus bar 29a and terminal 33a in transverse overlappingrelation. Inasmuch as the bus bar is of circular crosssectional area,the contact resistance between the bus bar and the terminal 33a issubstantially the same for any point of contact therebetween about theaxis of the bus bar. Consequently, the terminal 3311 may be located toextend transversely of the bus bar from a number of different positionsabout the axis of the bus bar.

The connector in is supported by the bus bar 29a according to theinvention for rotation relative to the bus bar about the bus bar axis toreceive a terminal extending transversely of the bus bar from anyposition about the axis of the bus bar. For this purpose the openings ofthe leg portions of the member 3a may conveniently be of circularconfiguration permitting such rotation. Only the leg portion 5a is shownin Fig. 5 having an opening 11a of circular configuration.

In Fig. 5 the connector in is illustrated in a first locationrepresented by the full line drawing for receiving a terminal 393aextending transversely of the bus bar from a first position about theaxis of the bus bar. However, the connector in may receive a conductorterminal which extends from a second position spaced from the first position. To this end the connector 1a may be rotated about the axis ofthe bus bar from the first location to a second location represented inFig. 5 by the dotted'line drawing for receiving a terminal 33a extendingfrom a second position spaced about the axis of the bus bar from thefirst position. The arrangement of Fig. 5 permits the ready connectionto the bus bar 29a of a rigid conductor terminal which extendstransverse to the bus bar from any position about the axis of the busbar without the necessity of effecting difficult and time consumingmanipulation of the conductor.

Al hough the invention has been described with reference to certainspecific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible, andit is desired to cover all modifications falling within the spirit andscope of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

l. in an electrical assembly, an elongated rigid support member havingan axis along its length, a connector including a pair of substantiallyU-shaped elements, each of said elements having a base portionconnecting a pair of spaced leg portions to define a channel extendingbetween the leg portions, each leg portion of one of said elementshaving an opening of substantially circular configuration with theopenings aligned along a straight line,

said support member extending through said openings, said support memberand openings being proportioned such that relative movement issubstantially prevented between the support member and openings indirections radially of the straight line, said one of said elementsbeing rotatable about the axis of the support member relative to saidsupport member to thereby effect rotation of the channel of said one ofsaid elements about said axis, said elements being positioned in linkingrelation to have each of said base portions positioned within the otherof said channels to extend transverse to each other, and to have the legportions of said elements projecting externally of said channels inopposite directions beyond said base portions so that relative movementbetween said elements is substantially prevented in directionstangential to a circle generated about said axis, an electricalconductor of rigid construction having a bare terminal, said terminalextending into the passage of said one of said elements between the baseportion of said other of said elements and said support member intransverse overlapping relation with said support member, and a pressureproducing device for effecting clamped engagement of said terminal withsaid support member, said pressure producing device comprising a screwthreadably carried by the base portion of said one of said elementsadjustable for forcing the base portion of said other of said elementsinto engagement with said terminal.

2. An electric terminal connector assembly comprising a connectorincluding a body member having a base portion connecting a pair ofspaced substantially parallel leg portions, each leg portion having anopening with the openings substantially aligned along a straight lineextending transverse to the leg portions, a bare first conductor havinga longitudinal axis and being of substantially rectangularcross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said firstconductor extending through said openings, said first conductor and saidopenings being proportioned such that relative movement is substantiallyprevented between the first conductor and openings in directionsradially of the straight line, said base portion being spaced from saidfirst conductor to provide a passage between said leg portions, saidbody member being rotatable about the axis of the first conductorrelative to said first conductor to permit rotation of said passageabout said axis, a bare second conductor extending through said passagein transverse overlapping relation with said first conductor, asubstantially U-shaped pressure applying device including a firstportion located within said passage connecting a pair of spaced secondportions, said first and second portions defining a channel within whichsaid base portion is positioned whereby relative rotational movement issubstantially prevented between said body member and said U-shapeddevice, and a pressure producing device for effecting tight engagementbetween said first portion and said second conductor terminal, saidpressure producing device being supported by said base portion foradjustment relative to the body member towards and away from said firstportion.

3. An electric terminal connector including a body member having a fiatplanar base portion connecting a pair of spaced leg portions, said legportions lying in a pair of parallel planes substantially transverse tothe base portion, each leg portion having an opening with the openingssubstantially aligned along a straight line transverse to the legportions for receiving a bare rigid first conductor, said openingshaving a circular configuration permitting rotation of said body memberabout said straight line relative to the first conductor received insaid openings, said base portion being spaced from said straight line toprovide a passage between said leg portions for receiving a bareterminal of a rigid second conductor transversely of the received firstconductor, a pressure applying device including a hat planar pressureplate portion connecting a pair of spaced extensions projectingtransversely of said pressure plate portion, said pressure applyingdevice being positioned with the pressure plate portion within saidpassage to have said extensions projecting in a direction opposite tosaid leg portions beyond said base portion whereby relative movement issubstantially prevented between said body member and said pressure plateportion in directions tangential to a circle generated about saidstraight line, and a pressure producing device comprising a screwthreadably carried by said base portion for adjustment to engage saidpressure plate portion to force the plate portion against a receivedsecond conductor terminal for effecting clamped engagement of thereceived second conductor terminal with the received first conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,157,846 Berndt May 9, 1939 2,159,757 Blakeslee May 23, 1939 2,205,322Thomas et al. June 18, 1940 2,484,144 Badeau Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS 21,093 France Dec. 31, 1919 488,217 France June 6, 1918

